2017 Subaru Forester problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (104) · Air Bags (99) · Electrical System (60)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Subaru Forester model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
321 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2019-10-03 · campaign 19V701000 · 366,282 vehicles
Defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
Risk: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Service bulletins (449)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-10-05 · SubaruNet Announcement (M · Other
this announcement provides information on a new software update for the midtronics dss and dca machines.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-18 · 13-109-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
Engine 2026-09-16 · 09-84-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin announces warranty extension and design changes made to the front exhaust pipe and covers to address the concerns of some customers regarding an odor or a rattle-type noise/fluttering sound coming from the undercarriage, during acceleration. this is an revised version of the original b
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · SubaruNet Announcement (C · Other
this announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-14 · 15-333-25R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Electrical System 2026-09-14 · 15-304-22R · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of infotainment concerns. this is an revised version of the original bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 449 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-29 · Air Bags“the occupant detection sensor had a recall in 2019 and we replaced under that recall in 2020, but the part has once again failed and in looking at other subaru forums, many others with this model year of subaru forester have dealt with the same ods replaced ods sensor failing again. this sensor deactivates the passenger airbag. …”
2026-10-20 · Seats“after replacement of the passenger ods harness under recall wum-98, the system still fails to detect a passenger in the seat, making it impossible for me to safely drive with a passenger. subaru will not fairly cover the defect and would have to install a new seat and recode the new seat to the airbag module. the repair would cost me at least $1500…”
2026-10-19 · Unknown Or Other“i am filing a formal complaint regarding repeated, costly, and premature failures on my 2017 subaru forester, as well as the outright refusal by subaru consumer advocacy to provide financial relief or goodwill reimbursement. between 2024 and 2026, reaching under 90,000 miles, i was forced to pay out-of-pocket for over $6,200 in major repairs: rear …”
2026-10-13 · Power Train“valve control assembly failure. a known tsb. disables safety features of the car. should be a recall. …”
2026-10-13 · Power Train“transmission light over heating comes on …”
2026-10-08 · Seat Belts“the occupant detection system has failed for years, the subaru dealership keep temporarily fixing the problem and has finally quoted me 2,000 to completely replace the seat as that is where the sensor is located. if i get in a wreck with a passenger they will have no airbag, and i dont think the seatbelts would work either. this is a faulty part th…”
2026-09-22 · Suspension“within 30k miles, front passinger control arm bushings required replacement due to bushing failure resulting in uneven tire ware. by 35k miles, the front driver lower control arm also had the same issue effecting steering and uneven tire ware.…”
2026-09-11 · Engine“the tgv valve metal flap screw came undone and came loose with the intake manifold. piece of metal about 1 in x 2 inch (flap) fell down to cylinder 2 intake and rubbed against the intake valve nipping pieces off and those pieces of metal along with loose screw fell chipping corner of cylinder 2 top edge. at my shop they had to replace cylinder 2 a…”
2026-09-10 · Steering · 💥 crash“on may 30, 2026, i was driving the freeway 2(glendale fwy) south, i was using the cruise control and driving 63 0r 68 miles. all of sudden, my car start to shaking violently, moving toward right lane, so i tried move my car back to my lane. my car was out of control and driving zig zag way then went up to hillside of the freeway and roll over end…”
2026-08-31 · Visibility/Wiper“ i was leaving home and driving in the neighborhood when i noticed that it was a crack on my windshield and there was no damaged or debris at the time. i didn’t hear anything nor there any trees or cars that will kick up rocks or bad weather it was strange to have happened and i thought it had to be a defective windshield. i looked to see if there…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.